Tucson Shooting Travesty and Comfort Foods

For the past week here in Tucson, I have felt liked the walking wounded and unable to put my fingers on the keyboard, to make them dance in any kind of meaningful way. Fortunately, I was nowhere near where the gunman shot 20 people but I know the corner and like everyone else around me – I cannot believe this travesty happened here. Yet, I am not remotely surprised that it did.

Arizona has been in the news lately and none of it has been good.

If I had magical powers, I would wave my wand and be elsewhere – anywhere, but here, but I’m no bewitched.

Perhaps it was the inspirational memorial service where President Obama spoke so eloquently? Perhaps it was the mental picture of people jumping in rain puddles to honor the youngest victim who died? Perhaps it was how Tucsonans have had such an outpouring of community spirit and pulled together as one? Perhaps it was that I finally cried and cried, able to release the tension? Or perhaps because Gabrielle Giffords opened her eyes and is making small steps of progress?

The mental fog is lifting.

I have wondered what Tucsonans are eating during this time of great stress. I have craved bread and butter or toast and peanut butter. Bread is a real comfort food for me. I rarely buy it and only eat it when I’m out. For once I want simple foods. Three nights in a row for dinner I had a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of red wine. Okay, make that two glasses of red wine.

Tucson (Arizona) has a new-ish stupid law where you are allowed to take guns into restaurants and bars. An establishment can opt out but they need to put up a sign saying, no firearms allowed. Are you one of those restaurants? Please let me know. I don’t want to patronize any restaurant where guns are allowed and I know I’m not alone in my thinking. Guns have no place in a restaurant.

The above photo was taken at a “Congress on the Corner” event about three years ago. My friend and I and her greyhound Buddy went to talk to Gabrielle Giffords about greyhound racing. (Photo courtesy of Diana Hansen). Giffords shared that she used to have a greyhound. As you can see, she was quite gracious. We’re rooting for you Gabby!

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It is indeed a tragedy that this unfortunate event happened. I respect your right to have the opinion you have about guns, but not everyone feels that way and here is the other perspective that I hold about guns.

A gun did not kill those people…a person did — a deranged, mentally ill person who could have caused harm in so many ways other than using a gun.

The right to bear arms is in the constitution. I know how to shoot a gun and hold guns in great respect. My father used to be a policeman before he went to law school and he first taught me to shoot his revolver on the farm where I grew up.

Guns, and the sport of hunting, keep our wildlife populations in check. Our deer population has never been more populous and healthy as it is now. If the deer herds were not thinned out each year, they would compete for food and some would starve during our harsh winters.

I live in Ohio. They passed a law a few years ago (maybe 5?) that gave individuals the right to carry a concealed weapon. There were many people that were skeptical about the law, including police officers, but you know what? They have been surprised by the facts that no negative trends emerged. The law required individuals first take a training class and the individuals that participated, my husband being one of them, have been responsible citizens.

Yes, restaurants and public buildings abound here with “no concealed weapons allowed”, so I can’t imagine how practical it is for an individual to actually carry a concealed weapon.

This is a rather long-winded reply, but I just wanted to touch on the fact that there are other opinions.

Mary I am not against all guns. Many of my friends including women own guns. I am against bringing guns into restaurants. There is absolutely no reason for a gun to come into a restaurant. None! What I didn’t mention is that in the last legislature, Arizona lawmakers did away with gun permits. Not only did it make gun possession easier but it also took millions of dollars away from our budget coffers. Arizona is billions of dollars in debt.

In 1991, there was a mass shooting by a deranged person (Hennard) at a Ruby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas. 23 people were killed and another 20 injured. There were about 80 people in the place at the time. Eventually, the shooter committed suicide, which ended his rampage. BTW, his rampage started when he drove his truck through the front window of the place, killing a local veterinarian who went to render assistance to the driver. The vet was the first to die.

During the shooting, he approached Suzanna Hupp and her parents. Suzanna had a gun, but it was in her car as the cafeteria did not allow guns. Her father, Mr. Gratia, attempted to subdue the shooter and he was killed. Her mother was also killed, as was a Lt. Colonel out of Fort Hood.

Suzanna Hupp later expressed regret for obeying the law by leaving her firearm in her car rather than keeping it on her person. If any person in that restaurant had been armed, including Suzanna, chances are great that the shooter would have been stopped before so many died.

Perhaps, you would feel differently about guns in restaurants if you had been in the cafeteria.